In the early months of 2015, I traveled to Rome as Vocation Director of our Diocese along with Bishop Hartmayer for the official annual visit to the now Father Andrew Larkin who at that time was studying at the North American College in Rome. While in the city, Bishop Hartmayer requested an appointment at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (now called Dicastery for the Causes of Saints) in order to inquire about the status of the Cause for the Beatification of Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions. The Franciscan Province of the Most Holy Name from New York had finalized the historical research and presented it to the Dicastery almost eight years prior, but this was followed by a long, silent pause.
We were warmly welcomed by a Bishop who worked at the Dicastery, and he quickly stated that the Cause should have already concluded because most of the work was done. We were quite surprised and pleased with this news. The Bishop put us in contact with Father Giovanni Giuseppe Califano, OFM, the priest in Rome who was the Postulator, the person who advances beatification and canonization causes and serves as an advocate before the Dicastery. Father Califano was pleased to welcome us the next morning. Ever since that initial visit, and through several more in years after, Father Califano became the indispensable link to move the Cause forward.
Among the many instructions from Father Califano, were included the commissioning of a monument and the production of a documentary. Much effort by many was channeled to build a beautiful monument in Darien, Georgia by the Canadian Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmaltz. The stunning work of art by this internationally-acclaimed artist was dedicated in 2021. Thanks to a grant from the Communications Committee of the U.S. Bishops, Guerilla Productions from Savannah was engaged to produce For the Sake of the Gospel, a thirty-minute documentary that tells the heroic story of Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions within its historical context. This documentary will serve as an effective tool to raise awareness of the story of the Friars.
In response to the increased interest in the Cause, and the unwavering commitment from the Diocese of Savannah, Father Califano moved on to write the final document to present to the Dicastery, called a Positio. The same historian who wrote the Positio for the Canonization of Saint Junipero Serra got to work, and the document was submitted to the Dicastery in 2022. In early 2023, we welcomed the good news that the Historical Commission of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints gave the document a unanimous favorable vote. Now we wait for two more committees to review the Cause before Rome grants a final decision, whether or not these five friars may be considered blessed among the saints.
Though our hope is that Rome will give a favorable response, and that there will be a Beatification in the future in our Diocese, the story of these friars is worth knowing and telling for its own sake. It is an example of the evangelization undertaken by the Church throughout the centuries, as well as the Franciscan ethos of missionaries living close to those entrusted to their care without a military garrison. The story of these men is one of courageous selflessness and heroic virtue. We pray united to God the Father, that the Cause of Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions may move forward, so that their work and sacrifice may be officially recognized by the Church and their witness be given to the universal Church as a worthy example to follow.
On Monday, February 5th at 5:30pm, EWTN will air a beautiful 30-minute documentary produced by the Diocese of Savannah. If you aren’t able to watch it, check EWTN on demand, or visit the website of the Cause: www.thegeorgiamartyrs.com after the official premiere.
Picture belongs to the Diocese of Savannah, used with permission.
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